river closure(s)

[swinger]

There have been some new changes here on the island regarding river closures. Locally the reason has been abuse from gear anglers who poach, fish closed sanctuary water and fish bait illegally. Does anyone know of any studies done on fly fishing only regulations that would help ministry biologists and regulators keep waters open to fly fishing? The level of abuse here on the west side of Vancouver island is disgusting. Please help.

[Coastrider]

I hope they understand that closing a river will not stop poaching, that is why they call it poaching. Check out Nanaimo River, blood soaked banks and nobody around to deal with it. Closures may be what the rivers need but there will still be the criminals. Really, how much more closed cana river be than fly fish only and catch and release only. Maybe they need to specify better"fly fishing" as there are still people lining there fly rods with mono

[BCBound]

The solution to the problem will always come down to man power. Enforcement is expensive, plain and simple. I don't think making a river fly water only will solve the problem, there still is a need for conservation officers to attend the area to make the busts. Having said that I know that this is one of their main objectives. It would be interesting to read a break down of enforcement deployment and see just where the tax layers dollars are being spent.

On a side note, it's easy to suggest that it's the gear anglers that are the problem. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be to say that it's the poachers and the law breakers who are the problem, and unfortunately they just happen to sling gear to achieve their results.

I know a lot of guys who gear fish that are as passionate about conservation as any fly fisher I've known. Let's not make the mistake of lumping them all together.





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[bronjuan]

they do specify fly-fishing quite well.

fly fishing … angling with a line to which only
an artificial fly is attached (floats, sinkers,
or attracting devices may not be attached
to the line when fishing is restricted to "fly
fishing only”).

[swinger]

Recently in the last few years there has been excellent enforcement, we have a CO who goes the extra mile. The problem is not being able to fish water that was once allowed. Anglers who just had to slip above falls or fish bait are the reason for the extra miles of closed river. I am also a gear fishermand but an avid flyfisherman. Once a year I'll even join my fat friend for day of slinging juts in a jet boat for hatcheries. The problem is that I can't swing my leach into the chrome winter steelie runs that I once did, but I am being punished, so why would I care about some yob with a dink float who has ruined my river time? How about a breakdown of the cost of going to court where these yobs get off because the regs state appx. 800m but it's 1000. Now give them back there $500 reel so they can go molest some more reds. In order for things that are special to last they will need special regulations. Don't wild steelies deserve better?

[swinger]

Sorry about the rant BCBound. I'm filling out some forms for regulation change and there is a need for studies done on flyfishing only. I know it won't stop poaching but at least we'll be there to help report and keep the CO involved when there is a problem. Have you ever heard of any studies done on this? I did one with coho years ago at the weigh west but it was on mortality of catch and release. The fly boat didn't loose a fish but odly enough the treble hook and anchovy did, sadly we were all lumped together.